Her Son's Driving Scares Her To Death

July 22, 1998|By Ann Landers.

Dear Ann Landers: My son just got his driver's license. He is walking on air. I've never seen him so pumped up. However, the thought of him driving around town by himself scares me to death. I trust him not to drink or take drugs, but I know those aren't the only causes of accidents. Do you have any advice that might help open his eyes to the dangers? He won't listen to me, but maybe you can get through to him. Please try.

Scared Mom in Seattle

Dear Seattle: An article in the June 1998 issue of Reader's Digest had some shocking information on teen drivers. Here's what the article said:

Car crashes killed over 6,300 teenagers last year. Most of them were inexperienced, immature or reckless drivers. And the reckless drivers weren't necessarily the ones to die. Often, it was their friends.

The article described three fatal accidents. The first was a 15-year-old boy who was "car-surfing" -- riding on the outside of the car while it was speeding down the road. The boy was riding on the roof of the car and slipped off. He suffered severe brain damage and died in the hospital. The 18-year-old female driver pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and was given five years' probation and 200 hours of community service.

In the second story, a 19-year-old college freshman was killed when he and a friend offered to be designated drivers at a fraternity party. The friend wanted to impress the fraternity boys and began "dinking" -- jerking the steering wheel back and forth, causing the car to swerve. The roads were wet, and he lost control. The 19-year-old freshman was killed, and another boy suffered permanent brain damage. The driver was sentenced to four months in a work-release center and three years' probation. He lost his driving privileges for eight years.

In the last story, a 13-year-old girl met up with some friends, including a 19-year-old boy, who packed nine kids into his small car. Only the two teens in front could find a seat belt. The driver, trying to be cool, began to speed and tailgate. He lost control of the car while going 85 mph, flew across the median and landed in oncoming traffic. He hit another car, and the seven kids in the back seat flew out the rear window. Only two of them survived, and one was left a quadriplegic. The 13-year-old girl was killed. The driver was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Teenagers need to understand that reckless behavior not only risks their personal safety but could also cause the death of a best friend or put a girlfriend in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Teens who are held responsible for an accident may also wind up spending years behind bars. The thrill is simply not worth the cost. Here are some guidelines that may help:

Do not get into any car where there are more passengers than there are seat belts.

Do not drive (or travel with anyone who drives) 20 mph or more over the speed limit.

Do not jerk the steering wheel to make the car swerve back and forth, and refuse to drive with anyone who thinks this is fun.

Do not allow anyone to grab the steering wheel while you are driving.

Do not tailgate, cut off or bump another car, and do not drive with someone who does.

Never let a passenger car-surf by riding on the outside of a moving car.

And now this is Ann talking. Do not get into a car if the driver has been drinking "a couple of beers" (it's usually more than a couple) or has had a joint or two. Even if he or she insists, "I'm perfectly OK," and seems so, that person's vision and sense of timing may be impaired just enough to put you in the hospital -- or the cemetery.